Conversation

We use the word "extremist" in a way that suggests a continuous position on a spectrum with "non-extreme" acceptable positions. If the extremes of a spectrum are ill-posed, the middle is generally ill-posed too, but just has the benefit of 3-sigma consensus
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The only real benefit to being "moderate" or "centrist" is that you are more systematically open to doubt in that position, and less sure of yourself. That leaves you open to off-spectrum ideas too, not just one side of the spectrum or the other being right in specific instances